Reeve barely noticed Heath’s departure; his mind was focused on his mate. Whether he was ready to face Kahn’s anger or not, it was time for him to head up to his mate’s bedroom. Sighing, he rinsed out his mug before placing it on the counter and then, checking to make sure the door and windows were locked, he left the kitchen.
Reeve stopped at the foot of the stairs, pausing for a moment to listen, but there was only silence. While Josiah’s death had accelerated the completion of his job, it had also increased the danger Kahn faced. Sussing out who wanted his mate dead hadbecome his top priority and he feared it would be even harder to figure that out than it had been to find Josiah.
Reaching Kahn’s bedroom door, he lifted his hand to it, hesitating before finally knocking softly. When there was no response, he tried the doorknob and found it turned easily.Thank the gods he didn’t lock it.He opened the door as quietly as possible, just in case Kahn was asleep.
The room was dark, and Reeve’s body blocked the light streaming in from the hallway. Stepping inside, he closed the door, glancing around the room until his eyes rested on his sobbing mate, curled up on the floor. Reaching Kahn, he knelt down, lifting him up to his chest. “Shhh…cariño…everything will be all right.”
Cradling his tearful mate in his arms. Reeve whispered words of love to him in an effort to soothe his pain.Pain that I caused.For the first time since childhood, Reeve felt helpless as he listened to the desperation in his mate’s cries. It was breaking his heart, but there was nothing he could do but wait until Kahn was ready to talk to him.
~/~/~/~/~
Peering out at the dark road leading to the Silver Point Pack, Heath concentrated on avoiding its many potholes. The lack of road maintenance shocked him the first time he’d driven on it, but after seeing the condition of the members’ homes, it made more sense—it became obvious that Josiah didn’t spend money on anything other than himself. Heath was relieved when his headlights finally illuminated the pack headquarters. Parking, he turned off the engine and stared off into the woods curving around the back of the building. If there was going to be any action tonight, he’d bet anything it would begin there.
Climbing out, he headed inside, calling out to the guard at the door. “Get Eddie.”
“Yes, sir.”
Flicking on all the lights, he headed back to Rudy’s office, checking to see if his computer was still there. It was a long shot but…eureka! Sitting down, he powered it on, tapping his fingers on the desk while waiting for it to boot up. Reeve’s tech team had already searched it for information about the massacre, but he was sure they hadn’t looked for data on who Rudy’s allies were. They’d have no reason to do so since it didn’t pertain to the investigation…until now!Clicking on documents, Heath inhaled sharply at the sheer number of files Rudy had. It was going to take a lot of time to go through all of them—time he didn’t have.
Eddie entered after giving a sharp rap on the doorframe. “You wanted to see me?”
“Yeah…I want you to double the men guarding the Silver Point enforcers and Rudy, I want the rest on patrol.”
“All night?”
“All night,” Heath confirmed. “Reeve suspects there’ll be an attempt to free Rudy tonight. Also, wake up the tech team and get them down here immediately.”
“Will do…is that it?”
“For now,” Heath muttered, his attention shifting back to the files on Rudy’s computer. Reading the file names, he ignored most since they appeared to deal with pack business, but then his eyes narrowed on one.Dylon Royd…why does that name sound familiar?Opening it, he found an employment application and other miscellaneous information dealing withRoyd’s background. Clicking on the last item in the file, Heath’s eyes widened as he viewed it.Fucking hell! It can’t be.
~/~/~/~/~
As his tears slowed, Kahn became aware of a strong set of arms cradling him against a muscled chest. It was just what he needed to soothe his troubled mind and ease his tears. Desiring more, he burrowed tighter against the savior, relishing the comfort he found there. In the past, he’d have been embarrassed by his breakdown, but not this time. Instead, he felt acceptance, understanding, and love…Love?
Kahn’s body stiffened.Who’s holding me?Turning his face until his nose was against the man’s chest, he sniffed but found nothing.Strange…not a shifter, then…but who is he?Slowly he lifted his face, peering through his thick lashes at…What the hell?It was the last person he ever expected to see.
“Feeling better?” asked Reeve, smiling at his mate.
“Let me go!” Kahn pushed against Reeve’s chest in an effort to put some distance between them so he could think clearly. He needed answers and, according to Heath, Reeve had them.
Reluctantly helping his mate to his feet, Reeve waited until Kahn moved away from him before he rose and walked over to a chair in the corner of the room. It wasn’t his first choice at the moment, but after smelling his mate’s fear, it was the only way to keep his hands to himself. After sitting down, he locked eyes on his mate but remained silent.
Kahn, his mind a cauldron of mixed feelings, stared at Reeve and tried to make sense of the love he’d felt while being held. Surely he had to be mistaken, but yet he couldn’t shake the thought that Reeve was somehow important to him. Putting that aside for themoment, Kahn concentrated on his most immediate issue. “Who killed my father?”
“A shifter your father shot.”
Startled, Kahn asked, “Why did he shoot him? Was the shifter attacking him?”
Shaking his head, Reeve replied, “Josiah shot the eyewitness to his crime and kidnapped Jackson’s mother. He shot a grizzly shifter who tried to rescue her.”
Blood draining from his face, Kahn sat down slowly on the edge of the bed. Closing his eyes, he shook his head in denial, wondering how to prevent his mother from ever finding out. Once the circumstances of his father’s death became common knowledge, some would blame her for driving her husband into the arms of another woman. Never mind if it was true or not, because he knew people often made their own versions of the facts to suit their needs.
And why some might think his mother should just acknowledge her husband’s love for Aunt Hope, the damage it would do to his sisters was incalculable…and something his mother would want to avoid at all costs.
Reeve felt his buffalo’s distress at their mate’s pain but knew only too well there wasn’t anything to do but plow on until he answered every one of Kahn’s questions. Then and only then, would his mate begin to heal.
“Where’s my father’s body?”
